Happy times are always short-lived.
Especially when those happy days are filled with tenfold gravity torture and the occasional pink, ambiguous interaction.
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
News that registration for the World Martial Arts Tournament had begun was already spreading worldwide through television and radio.
Krillin knew it was time to leave.
If he didn't return to meet Master Roshi, the storyline might shift in unpredictable ways.
Early that morning, at Capsule Corporation's private helipad, a bright yellow capsule jet had already finished warming up.
Pale blue flames flickered from the engine, stirring the grass into restless waves.
Mrs. Brief hurried over with an absurd pile of snacks and bento boxes, stuffing them into Krillin's backpack as if he were heading into the wilderness instead of back to Kame House.
Dr. Brief stepped forward and handed him a small metal box.
"This is the Gravity Bracelet you requested," he said.
"It's not as powerful as the Gravity Room, but maintaining two or three times gravity on your limbs won't be a problem.
Wear them all the time. Don't take them off—even when eating or sleeping."
"Thanks, Doctor," Krillin said solemnly as he accepted them.
Finally, only Bulma remained.
Today she wore a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts, her hair tied into a refreshing ponytail. She wasn't holding the completed Battle Suit.
"The suit… isn't fully finished yet," she muttered, lightly kicking a pebble and avoiding his gaze.
"The final core chip still needs debugging. When the tournament starts, I'll bring it to you."
In truth, the suit had been finished long ago.
She simply wanted an excuse—an excuse to see him again.
"Alright. I'll wait for you," Krillin replied.
He saw through her little scheme but chose not to expose it.
The wind picked up, blowing her bangs across her face.
They stood facing each other as if the surrounding noise had been muted.
"Um… you have to win," Bulma said, biting her lower lip. "If you lose… I'll turn the Battle Suit into a pink maid outfit!"
"Don't worry," Krillin said with a confident smile. "The odds of that happening are about one in a billion."
He slung his backpack over his shoulder and turned toward the plane.
One step.
Two steps.
Suddenly, a sharp ache of parting flooded Bulma's heart.
After spending every day together—training, eating, arguing—she had grown used to his presence.
Why did the villa feel so empty the moment he was about to leave?
"Krillin!"
He stopped and turned.
A white blur rushed toward him.
Bulma didn't slow down. She threw herself into his arms.
Before he could react, she rose on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, shut her eyes, and pressed her soft lips against his.
Boom.
It felt like fireworks exploded inside his mind.
This wasn't a fleeting peck.
It was a kiss filled with youthful sincerity and surprising boldness.
A faint citrus sweetness lingered between them.
Krillin's arms instinctively wrapped around her slender waist as he responded, deepening the kiss.
Time seemed to freeze.
Only Mrs. Brief's delighted laughter and Dr. Brief's whistle broke the silence.
After a long moment, they parted.
Bulma's face was crimson. She was slightly breathless, but her eyes held firm determination.
"This… is an advance reward," she said softly. "You must come back with the championship."
At that instant, a mechanical prompt echoed in Krillin's mind.
[Ding! Key plot interaction detected.]
[Target: Bulma.]
[Current Favorability: 92/100 (Unwavering First Love).]
[Congratulations, Host, for reaching the 90% favorability threshold!]
[Rewards obtained: Intelligence +15, other attributes +200!]
[Extracting target's core ability…]
[Extraction successful! Passive skill acquired: Genius Intellect (S-rank).]
[Description: Neural connection speed increased by 30%. Logical thinking, learning ability, and mechanical comprehension greatly enhanced.
Complex blueprints can be memorized instantly. Martial techniques can be understood at a glance. Comprehension has evolved from Mortal to Prodigy.]
In that moment, the world shifted.
Where he once merely felt the wind brushing past, he could now calculate its speed, angle, and pressure.
The complex instrument panel of the jet, once dizzying, now looked like simple arithmetic.
He even noticed a minute flaw in the engine intake design at a glance.
So this is how Bulma sees the world.
So this is the mind of a genius.
The mental fog that once clouded him vanished completely.
Combined with the physical might of the Saitama template, he felt truly unstoppable.
"Thanks," he said softly, brushing his fingers over her slightly swollen lips. "I really like this gift."
His gaze had gained a new depth—clear, analytical, and sharp.
"I'm off."
This time, he didn't hesitate.
He boarded the plane.
The hatch closed. The engine roared.
The yellow jet shot into the sky, carving a graceful arc before heading toward the southern seas.
Bulma stood there until it became a tiny black dot.
Only then did she look down and gently touch her lips.
His warmth still lingered.
"Strange…" she murmured. "Why did his eyes suddenly feel different? Even more… charming."
High above the clouds—
Krillin piloted the plane with one hand and examined his palm with the other.
"System, open panel."
[Host: Krillin]
[Template: One Punch Man (Fusion Degree 15%)]
Strength: 120
Speed: 118
Physique: 120
Intelligence: 50
Charm: 85
[Special Abilities: Bald Power (Passive), Beast Intuition, Genius Intellect (New).]
Krillin clenched his fist.
With Genius Intellect, martial arts were no longer just instinct and muscle memory.
He could analyze the essence of ki, optimize the Kame School's techniques, and perhaps even develop his own Serious Series.
This clarity… was intoxicating.
The jet pierced through the clouds.
In the distance, a small pink house stood alone on an island.
Kame House.
He had arrived.